THE LONG-NEGLECTED historic Leper Hospital in Warwick could finally be set to receive some overdue TLC.
The ruins of the medieval St Michael’s Leper Hospital sits in a patch of scrubland in Saltisford. The remains of two buildings – a chapel and the 15th century two-storey timber-framed Master’s House – can still be seen.
But what is left of the grade II-listed hospital, founded in the 12th century by the Earl of Warwick, has stood derelict for many years covered by a tarpaulin and propped up to prevent collapse.
But Warwick District Council has now pledged £530,000 to help save the site for future generations. The cash will come from so-called Section 106 funding paid to the council by housing developers building in the district.
Council chiefs have long looked for possible ways to preserve the privately-owned hospital, but a number of proposals have failed to get off the drawing board.
It has meant the site has remained on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register for some two decades – described as in a “very bad” condition, the worst most serious rating.
A council spokesman said: “The Leper Hospital site has remained undeveloped for a number of years but now this development project will revitalise the site to provide a supported housing scheme as well as the opportunity to learn more about this important historic site.”
